Critical Thinking Blog #9

While Cheever’s “The Swimmer” does include a plethora of references about alcohol, its message is not about alcoholism and addiction. The usage of alcohol is merely a nod to the mundane commonality it is within the social scene of the bourgeoisie, suburban lifestyle that Neddy exists in. It is far too simplistic to blame Neddy’s drinking for the occurrences that happen. Neddy’s problems are rooted deep with in his psyche and his denial is displaced within the journey he believes he is taking across his neighbors’ pools. Instead, it symbolizes the passage of time and Neddy’s inability to cope with the misfortunes of his life. He takes on this pilgrimage in an effort to delay his realization that he no longer lives a lavish lifestyle due to his financial follies. Neddy’s journey is metaphorically illustrated through the methods of swimming and, slowly, Neddy begins to drown throughout his life and the culmination of his struggle derives from the ending in which he finds his house empty and abandoned. While Neddy starts out strong and swims vigorously, eventually he swims too far out and becomes winded and downtrodden. Similar to Edna in The Awakening, Neddy is searching for something. While their reasoning and outcomes differ, they both swim out of reach for detachment. Neddy detaches himself from the reality of his decreasing financial and societal standpoint.